reprisal weapon

In Nazi Germany during World War II, the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket were termed reprisal weapons or vengeance weapons (Vergeltungswaffen or V-Waffen for short) by Goebbels' propaganda ministry. The name was chosen with regard to the allied bombing of German cities, which the conventional German air force could neither prevent nor answer in kind. A third and less well-known component of the V-Waffen programme was the V-3 cannon, which never reached a substantial level of operation. Intended to turn the war back in Germany's favour, the accuracy and hence the military effectiveness of all these weapons was low. They did, however, have an important psychological impact both in Germany and in the countries attacked with them.

Reprisal Weapon

See also